The state Department of Health is investigating more than two dozen cases of babies born with a rare birth defect in a three-county area in Eastern Washington.
From 2010 to 2013, there were 23 babies were born with anencephaly in Yakima, Benton and Franklin counties — roughly four times the national average. Anencephaly is a neural tube defect in which the baby’s brain and skull do not fully form during the first month of pregnancy. Babies with the defect often die shortly after birth.
Kathy Lofy, state health officer for the Dept. of Health, spoke with Jennifer Huntley of “The Impact” about the ongoing investigation, and whether or not there is a link to the nearby Hanford nuclear site in Benton County. The show airs Wednesday, May 28 at 7 & 10 p.m.
More information about the investigation can be found here. Officials recommend that pregnant women take folic acid daily to prevent birth defects, and also have their water tested for nitrate and bacteria if drinking from a private well.
Update: Watch “The Impact” below: